Computing-machine.



A. 0. DAVISON.

COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 23, 1911.

Patented July 30, 1912 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

59 FIE. 7

711 a attmeus.

UNITED STATES PATENT orFroE.

. ANDREW O. DAVISON,

or DAYTON, omo, ASSIGNOR TO THE vmLrr-im'rr: COMPANY, or DAYTON, OHIO, A oonrormrron or orrro.

COMPUTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1912.

To all whom if may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW O. DAvIsoN,

residing at Dayton, Montgomery county,

exact description.

My invention relates to the class of computing machines wherein a plurality of mathematical tables are printed or otherwise made to appear upon flexible tapes, wound upon spring actuated drums, and has for its object to make a neat, compact and convenient computing machine, and ata moderate cost. e

It embodies various structural novelties, which will be pointed out as they appear.

In the accompanying" drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are a plan and front elevation respectively of my machine;'Fig. 3 is a right hand side elevation, with part of the hood removed; Fig, 4 is a similar view of the left side, with a portion of the side frame also removed Fig. 5 shows a group of drums mounted on a shaft; Fig. 6 is a' detail of the 1 terminal end of a tape, and Fig. 7 is a transverse section of a drum. I

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

10 is a base having side frames 11 and'12 mounted thereon. Each side frame has holes 13 in which shafts 14 are journaled.

Frame 12 has a' flange 15, in which a hole is drilled and tapped opposite each hole 13,. and a set screw 16 inserted. Shafts 14 are round, except that they have one side flattened, whichdoes not prevent them rotating in holes 13. Upon each shaft two or more drums are mounted. The drums are com posed of end pieces 17 and 18', secured to and carrying a cylindrical body portion 19.

Tenons on I the body ortion, fitting into apertures-in the end pieces hold the drums together. The drums, having round holes in the end pieces, are free to revolve on the shafts. The end pieces 17 have each a projecting lug 20, formed by shearing and bending outward a portion of the end piece. The outer end of a spiral spring 21 is riveted or otherwise secured to each lug 20. Juxtaposed to the end 17 of each drum is a disk 22, having a plurality of laterally extending lugs 23, which serve to keep the disks farenough from the ends 17 to glve'the springf suitable clearance, and also to protect the newal or change of tapes.

springs. -The disks have central apertures with outlines complementary to the shape of the shafts, thereby being free to slip on the shaft, but being unable to rotate thereon. In forming the apertures the material removed is left unsevered at one side, and is bent outward, in the same direction as the erture'which engages the flat side of the shaft and prevents it turning on the shaft.

The portion bent out forms the lug 2 1, to

which the inner end of the spring is secured.

The body portion .of the drum has a row of V shape points 25 formed on one side of the plate from which it is made; when the plate is formed into a cylinder, these points lie in complementary recesses formed in the opposite side of the plate.

-The computing member is a flexible tape 30, upon which the calculations are arranged in tabular form. In order that the tape maynot be toobulky, it is preferably made of quite thin material. The ends are strengthened by pasting reinforcing pieces 31 and 32, composed of flexible material, to the ends. Apertures are made in the piece 31, intowhich the points 25 are inserted before the drums are put together. In the third drum from th'eaend, Fig. 5, thepiece 31 is shown in section, showing how the piece 31 is kept in place on the points 25 by projections 27.

It is not necessary that the tape be atbeing attached, and the points afterward 'ossible the reo'little bending is required that the po nts may be bent many times without breaking.

The required number of drums and associated parts are mounted on each of the several shafts, and the latter are mounted in the side frames 11 and 12, the framesbeing then'secured to the base 10. The hood 35 is then put in place, the ends of the tapes being passed through the slots 36 in the sloping top of the hood. Terminals, comprising wire links 37, plates 38, and tags 39, are then secured to'the end pieces 32. When all is ready the hood may'be lifted sufiiciently to permit of a key or other suitable implement being applied to the ends of the sevbent down. This makes Obviously, any desired matter may be made to appear on the computing tapes; in the present machine the tables they bear are adapted to use in making out payrolls. At the bottom of each tape appears the rate per hour at which the amounts given are computed. Above this are the various numbers of hours, and opposite each is the amount to be paid for the given number of hours at the rate per hour given below.

Fig. 1 shows the 27% cents per hour tape partially drawn out. As will be seen, the amounts are given for if, 1}, and hour; beginning with l the amounts are given in steps of one hour each. By placing two columns on the tape it is thereby required to be but half the length it would otherwise have to be.

In Fig. 2 it will be seen that each tag 39 is marked to show the rate of the tape it is attached to. If a man has worked hours and receives 27%- cents per hour, the operator takes hold of the tape marked 27% and draws out the tape far enough to expose 60, opposite which will be found $16.50, the amount the man should receive. When the tag is released the spring rewinds the tape on the drum; the plate 38, coming in contact with the hood, acts as a stop for" the tape and covers the slot to keep out dust.

Minor changes may be made in some of the structural features shown while keeping within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a computing machine, in combinashaft notwithstandingthe irregular form thereof; a spiral spring between each drum and the juxtaposed disk, one end of the spring being secured to the disk and the other to the drum; means whereby the shaft may be rotated for the purpose of winding the springs, thereby enabling them to rotate the drums; and means for securing the shaft against rotation after the springs have been wound.

2. In a computing machine, in combination: a pair of side frames, each having one or more apertures adapted to receive a shaft; one or more shafts journaled inthe apertures, said shafts being of irregular cross section, preferably round with one side fiattened; two or more disks mounted upon each shaft, having central apertures which conform to the contour of the shaft sufficiently to prevent their turning thereon; a drum mounted upon the shaft adjacent to each disk, said drums having apertures to receive the shaft, of such forfn that they may rotate upon the shaft, notwithstanding -the irregular shape thereof a spiral spring between each drum and the juxtaposed disk, one end thereof being secured to the disk and the other end to the drum; means whereby the shafts may be rotated to wind the springs, thereby enabling them to rotate the drums; and a set screw in one of the side frames opposite each aperture, adapted to engage the irregularity in the shaft and prevent it rotating after the springs have been wound. 1

3. Adrum for a flexible tape computing machine, comprising in combination: a cy-- lindrical central portion, formed from a rectangularplate, one of whose edges is provided with projecting points, the opposite edge having recesses into which said points project when the plate is formed into a cylinder; a pair of plates forming the ends of the drum; and means for securing the end plates to the cylindrical portion after the points on the edge of the plate have been inserted into apertures in the end of the ta e.

In a computing machine, in combina tion: a drum whose body comprises a piece of sheet metal formed into a cylinder with its longitudinal edges brought into juxtaposition, one of said edges having projecting points which extend into recess formed in the opposing edge; and a tape secured to said drum by having its end inserted between the opposing longitudinal edges of the cylinder and there retainedby the aforesaid points'passing through apertures in the tape.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREW O. DAVISON.

Witnesses CHAS. D. BRONSON, F. K. FAssETT. 

